Beowulf concretely establishes the traditional hero/villain roles only to have Grendel pulverize this concept proving that just as Grendel the character cannot exist without Beowulf the character, Grendel the novel cannot exist without Beowulf the poem.

Gardner utilizes alliteration, demonic kennings, negative diction, pathos, first point of view, pleading repetition, innocent tone, and beastlike imagery to manipulate the villain role and create compassion for Grendel. Through the use of pathos, pleading diction, innocent tone, demonic kennings, creates Grendel look as if not evil. Grendel is portrayed as a confused creature passing through life looking for answers. Surprisingly Grendel walks the forest in harmony with animals. He does not act like the blood hungry beast he is seen as in Beowulf. Another aspect of the humans in the story that Grendel defines is their concept of a hero. Not only does he allow for heroes to exits he gives them their purpose in life. Grendel evokes sympathy toward the hideous monster by making him seem like the victim, while Beowulf portrays him as being the most loathsome of enemies.

Another aspect of the humans in the story that Grendel defines is their concept of a hero. Not only does he allow for heroes to exist he gives them their purpose in life. Grendel is the monster in the darkness that every loyal thane would defend his king against. Without Grendel this unique situation would not exist. On the other hand, Grendel has the ability of humiliating and causing a man to be named a coward. He does this to none other than Unferth. Unferth is treated like a hero because he would defeat the "monster" Grendel, or die trying. When Grendel does not allow him to complete this task he is shamed by his fellow thanes. Grendel realizes that by killing the man he will be defining him as a hero in the eyes of the humans. Considering the way Grendel was treated by Unferth, and others like him, it becomes easy to sympathize with him extracting this tiny bit of revenge. Later on in the story, however, Grendel gives a man the glory of being a hero at the cost of his own life. This man is Beowulf

One of the most compelling and highly developed characters in the novel Grendel, written by John Gardner, and the poem Beowulf, written by an anonymous poet, is the monster, Grendel. Even though these pieces show two different sides to Grendel they are similar in many ways. Grendel evokes sympathy toward the hideous monster by making him seem like the victim, while Beowulf portrays him as being the most loathsome of enemies. The reasons behind Grendel’s being, his killing, and finally his death make him one of the most controversial and infamous monsters in literature. Grendel is the man-killing monster that Beowulf portrayed him as being, yet he is also the lonely victim of a judgmental world. Grendel is a descendent of Cain and is forced to live with the inherited curse of being denied God’s presence. Cain’s lineage has been known to spawn monsters, trolls, giants, and other undesirable beings, all of which were rejected from society. Beowulf and Grendel both speak of Grendel’s ancestor Cain, almost as if using it as an excuse for his rash and murderous actions. Beowulf told of a Grendel that mercilessly attacked Hrothgar’s meadhall killing men without reason. Grendel also speaks of this evil monster, but in a more sympathetic and excusable manner. Grendel is thought of as “the guardian of sins'; and is the physical equivalent to a man that has been shunned by God. He is des... Grendel's first encounter with the human beings that he literally defines is not a pleasant one. After accidentally trapping himself in a tree he is discovered by a group of thanes out on patrol. Grendel expresses absolutely no hostile intentions towards these "ridiculous" (ch.2, pp.24) creatures that "moved by clicks." (ch.2, pp.24) The thanes do not...

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... "The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time." A.E. Houseman, in the tragic poem “'To an AthleteDyingYoung," examines the themes of youth and premature death. The poem addresses a young runner who epitomized glory by winning a race and earning the heart of his townsmen. The triumph of the youth's winning of a race is matched by the ironic triumph of his death. The usage of metaphoric language, imagery, sophisticated literature, and rhyming couplets created a complex poem that obtains these subjective themes. The effectiveness of the poem contributes to the overall purpose Housman was trying to propose, for the speaker of the poem examines how the individual in the poem lived as a champion, and died as a legend. In addition, "To An AthleteDyingYoung," challenges traditional perspectives on death, for Housman suggests it's better for people to die at the height of their glory, than to die later on and be forgotten.
To an AthleteDyingYoung by A. E. Housman is a piece about one of the most tragic fates. That fate, of course, is dying at a young age. The first thing that must be determined is who is telling the poem. The speaker is believed to be an older man, one who had been a champion of sorts in his younger days. He seems to know and...

...matter how hard society tries is unavoidable: dyingyoung. However, Housman explores the idea that dyingyoung is not always negative. In A. E. Housman’s poem, “To An AthleteDyingYoung,” he addresses this very common, fear in human nature. The unescapable outcome of death, as a fear, is due to human nature, with every single person wanting to live the longest most successful life, they can, but in the end never avoiding death.. Housman, unlike the majority of people, embraces dyingyoung in a positive manner. He avoids the mournful aspects of one life ending short, but embraces the benefits. After reading Housman’s poem, one’s mind should be more at ease with the concept of dying prematurely. Housman uses the positive memories of an athlete who died on the peak of his career. This makes oneself realize that someone who dies young will never be forgotten, but also people will only remember the achievements in one’s lifetime. “To An AthleteDyingYoung,” allows one inner mind be at piece, on a matter which causes immense fear in humans.
Moreover, with memorable moments, and community emotions, the author was intentional and creative within his poetic writing. To start, Housman uses alliterations throughout his poem, which allows one’s mind too mentally, connect...

...Analysis of “To an AthleteDyingYoung”
In his poem “To an AthleteDyingYoung”, A.E. Housman makes a quite different approach on death. People have different perspectives on death, but more often than not, it is viewed as an undesirable event that people wish to avoid. The speaker in the poem, however, praises a young and famous athlete for dying before he became old and forgotten. This can be interpreted two very different ways. One can assume Housman believes that the only way for athletes to capture the glory is to die when at the peak of their careers. One might criticize him for having such a pessimistic view of life, but we must realize that we are among many people who give those athletes the feeling of disgrace as they are no longer praised for being people’s heroes. On the other hand, the poem can simply be considered as elegy which mourns the premature death while also praising the youth lived to the fullest. Regardless of the interpretation, “To an AthleteDyingYoung” is definitely a thought-provoking poem that allows the readers to think about the meaning of life and death. Housman achieves this by using form and rhyme scheme, sound, and figurative languages such as metaphors and similes.
The poem has seven stanzas and each stanza consists of two pairs of...

..."To an AthleteDyingYoung"
Many people fear dying at a young age. Along with that come fears of not being able to fulfill all their dreams, not being able to live a prosperous life and take full advantage of their time on earth. It is a sad fate that is uncontrollable by any human, and to view a young and premature death in a positive light would be horrendous to many. However, Alfred Edward Housman does exactly that in his poem "To an AthleteDyingYoung." Housman implies in his poem that it is better to die in one's prime rather than to live to a rip old age just to see all their accomplishments fade and become meaningless to everyone.
"To an AthleteDyingYoung" takes place at a young champion runner's funeral or possibly before the funeral at the memorial service. In the first stanza, the poem starts by the speaker reflecting on the time the champion runner won the town race, and he was greatly celebrated and carried home "shoulder-high." The tone of the poem starts as one of pride and celebration in the remembrance of the great win, but the tone shifts quickly in the transition from the first stanza to the second to a more solemn and depressing tone.
In line five, "Today, the road all runners come," (5) the speaker is painting the picture of the funeral. The whole town, which is...

...“To an AthleteDyingYoung”
By
Genea Cannon
Dr. A. Kantor
English 1302
6 March 2009
“To an AthleteDyingYoung”
by A. E. Houseman
The time you won your town the race
We chaired you through the market-place;
Man and boy stood cheering by,
And home we brought you shoulder-high.
Today, the road all runners come,
Shoulder-high we bring you home,
And set you at your threshold down,
Townsman of a stiller town.
Smart lad, to slip betimes away
From fields where glory does not stay,
And early though the laurel grows
It withers quicker than the rose.
Eyes the shady night has shut
Cannot see the record cut,
And silence sounds no worse than cheers
After earth has stopped the ears:
Now you will not swell the rout
Of lads that wore their honors out,
Runners whom renown outran
And the name died before the man.
So set, before its echoes fade,
The fleet foot on the sill of shade,
And hold to the low lintel up
The still-defended challenge-cup.
And round that early-laureled head
Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead,
And find unwithered on its curls
The garland briefer than a girl’s.
Thesis and Outline
Thesis: Housman uses visual imagery, double-meaning words, and life cycles to develop a theme of fading glory.
I.Visual Imagery
A. Presence
B. Effect
II.Double-meaning Words
A. Presence
B. Effect
III.Life Cycles
A. Presence
B. Effect...

...The poem “To an AthleteDyingYoung” by A. E. Housman is about how dying at an early age can actually be perceived in a good light rather than being a terrible tragedy. This take on death is very ironic because the speaker sees it as a lucky and better ending. The theme of the poem is glory is fleeting and one must act upon it before it goes, which is by dying. The speaker feels that dyingyoung is more favorable because when one dies when their merits and achievements are still relevant, they will forever be remembered inr those great memories, as opposed to one dying in their old age with their glory long forgotten.
The poem is composed of mostly iambic tetrameter with seven stanzas that has four lines within each stanza. The rhyme scheme is of aabb, ccdd, eeff, etc. Each stanza has a pair of couplets that makes the poem be read in a rhythm of something almost like a child’s nursery rhyme. It has measured pattern that could even resemble an athlete's running footsteps, which are usually paced. This is symbolic to the title and the subject of the poem. The running paced rhythm shows that life is like a race. The runners continue on their path until they reach the finish line, their death, which is inevitable. Most of the lines are usually consisted seven or eight syllables and the whole poem itself has seven stanzas. The number seven is significant because...

...19, 2014
Although “To an AthleteDyingYoung” by A.E. Housman and “Ex-Basketball Player” by John Updike are both about the reflection of honorary greatness achieved in their lives as athletes, the speakers possess different views and attitudes towards their characters in each poem. In “To an AthleteDyingYoung” the speaker shares a positive reflection of the characters accomplishments that takes place due to the death of that character dying at a young age: “To-day, the road all runners come, / Shoulder-high we bring you home, /And set you at your threshold down, /Townsman of a stiller town.” (“Athlete”5-8). In “Ex-Basketball Player” John Updike speaker reflects upon Flick Webb’s past achievements in the as a high school basketball player: “Once Flick played for the high-school team, the Wizards / He was good: in fact, the best.” (“Ex-Basketball”13-14). Though the speaker praises Flick Webb’s on his past achievements as an athlete, the speaker sets a tone of a man that has not achieved much during his adult years: “He never learned a trade, he just sells gas, / Checks oil, and changes flats.” (“Ex-Basketball”19-20).
The picture painted with words by the speaker in “To an AthleteDyingYoung” portrays a story of an athlete receiving praise and honor for their...

...Sydney Walcher
Instructor, Lisa Ward
English 1213
8 April 2013
To an AthleteDyingYoung
A.E. Housman was a poet born in 1859 who became very successful during his lifetime. “To an AthleteDyingYoung” represents the theme of glory is fleeting by illustrating the point that if a successful athlete dies young, they will not have to worry about their glory of victory fading. They can rest in peace knowing they will be remembered at their athletic peak when they were successful and victorious. They will not have to go through the pain of watching their fame disappear or whither out with time. In this poetic masterpiece, Housman pulls together figurative language, sound devices, and structure to illustrate that glory is fleeting through a majestic poem that will be remembered for many years.
Figurative language consists of many different devices including metaphors and similes which are often used in poetry like “To an AthleteDyingYoung.” Metaphors compare unlike things but does not use like or as, the comparison is implied. Some metaphors that stick out in “To an AthleteDyingYoung” are the phrase “stiller town” which is a metaphor for a cemetery and the line “Eyes the shady night has shut” which metaphorically states that someone has died. Another device often used in Housman’s...